When Angelina first joined the Bridge Program a few years ago, life was anything but easy. “When I started I was not in a good place... I was experiencing homelessness, my health was bad,” she recalls. A devastating house fire and the loss of close relationships left her feeling isolated and hopeless. “You end up tending to lose a lot of friends and family members because they just don't get it... It can lead to a lot of emotions like loneliness and feeling unstable all the time.”

But Angelina didn’t give up. She reached out for support, and that choice changed everything.

Through the Bridge Program, Angelina connected with a caring navigator who helped her see what was possible. “Working with the program and [my navigator], it made me see all the things that I was the whole time,” she shares. From securing safe housing to gaining financial stability, she began building the strong foundation she once thought was out of reach.

With guidance and her own determination, Angelina uncovered something even more powerful than stability—confidence. “Some of the things I've been able to learn that were inside me all along is I am able to be stable. I've learned a great value of self-love, discipline, confidence… and that's through the guidance this program has provided.”

Today, Angelina is thriving. She recently graduated from a medical assistant training program and has found purpose in her work as a home health aide, caring for the elderly. Her resilience and optimism continue to light the way for others, proving that with support and self-belief, anything is possible.

As Angelina says with gratitude, “This program has truly been a judgment-free light at the end of the tunnel.” And her message to others is simple but powerful:

“It's amazing how far you'll go when someone believes in you.” - Katie Kacvinsky

Watch Angelina share her inspiring journey in her own words during her graduation speech.